Let me start with an illustrative verse. Matthew 6:14-15 records Jesus as saying, "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions". * It is noted that this passage appears immediately following the Lords Prayer, where we are saying "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." The subject is so important that Jesus provides the clarifying verses quoted above. Certainly we want the forgiveness that Jesus has provided by His sacrifice at the cross, so these verses remind us of that act. I would like to suggest that Matthew 6:14-15 should be read every time the Lord's Prayer is recited, but perhaps that is asking too much.

The real "grabber" is Matthew 6:15, which leaves us with the possibility that our transgressions will not be forgiven. What does this passage mean? Those who have searched the Bible and understand God's role in the whole task of forgiveness may have found Hebrews 9:22b, which says, "without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness".

So we have found one of the keys, but still there are questions we must answer. How do I forgive others when I do not require their blood or mine to be shed? What must I do to forgive others? How do I do it?

I am saddened by the commentaries on these verses. So often the approach is to proclaim that we have no choice-that we must forgive. There is no option, they say, if we want to be forgiven. How it is to be done is not stated. The whole issue is examined from OUR viewpoint, rather than God's. One comment, within a popular version of the Bible, tries to explain the desired result by saying that for us to forgive others is to work for their sins to be removed from them through the power of Jesus. Yes, that is involved, but it does not go far enough to address the sins against us that we are clearly to forgive. Another common word of advice is that if we don't forgive it will only hurt us. This is true, it will hurt us, but it is does not reach out to the benefits of forgiveness to the person who has committed the transgression. Christ would have us think mainly of that person if we are acting in love.

An Old Testament perspective has been provided by the life of Joseph, as he redeemed his brothers who had sold him into slavery. Joseph learned, over some period of time, no matter what his brothers had done; there was a God-given purpose in Joseph's life. Genesis 50:22 says, "And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive". So here is another key that Joseph lived by-he understood that there is an overriding purpose in forgiving and redeeming those who have trespassed against you. That purpose is to "preserve people alive". The eternal perspective on this is not to just consider earthly life being addressed-it is eternal life. We desire, by being forgiving creatures in Christ, to see the redemption of all mankind. We want them to reach their full potential in Christ, and, at the same time, we will attain our potential when we respond in faith to Him. Notice that Joseph did not seem concerned about what he might suffer if he did not forgive his brothers. His primary concern was for them to repent and to receive the forgiveness that would restore them to a close relationship with God.

So, using this second key, namely that we are to look from God's perspective, what would He have us do? Certainly He does not expect us to use human effort, or to use what the Bible may refer to as the "flesh". That, admittedly, is often our first reaction. We resolve to forgive, we try to forgive, we urge attitudes of forgiveness, we try to forget, we analyze, etc. We allow others to condemn us for our unforgiveness, we blame our small faith, we blame our past, we blame our parents, and we blame others. No, my friend, there is another way!

There is the way of our identification with Christ. Paul correctly says, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son o god, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me". (Galatians 2:20) He also explains that "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come". (2 Corinthians 5:17) We are to consider, or count, that these things are true. We have been placed on the cross with Jesus, so that the old nature (flesh) is to have no power over us. We are alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6: 4-11).

You say, what has that to do with forgiveness? It has everything to do with it. Now we have the new creation within, the life of Christ, being available to express Himself in our act of forgiveness. This new creation knows only to forgive, he/she knows nothing of holding grudges, nothing of getting revenge, nothing of glorifying self. This new creation wants to express Christ and nothing more. You are this new creation-accept this position by faith. Claim by faith the forgiveness that is already there. In effect you are saying, " Thank you, Lord, for dying for all sin. Your blood has covered it all. I claim what you have done, and I rely on the Holy Spirit to fill me with this spirit of forgiveness. I claim it and I consider all of this true".

That is why Jesus could say "But if you do not forgive men for their transgressions, your Father will not forgive your transgression". He is saying that the one who forgives will also be the one who knows he/she has been forgiven. The one who does not forgive is also the one who has not accepted his/her own forgiveness. The one who forgives others does so because he/she has claimed the new life within. That new life will show forgiveness to others. This forgiveness will help redeem others to Christ. They will see Christ in our words as well as our actions. We claim this by faith. It is our position in Christ.

I have recently been struck by Jesus' last words on the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."  In a similar manner, as Stephen fell under the many stones hurled against him, he said "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!"  (Acts 7:60).  Undoubtedly this had a major influence on the life of Saul as he stood there and watched.  Dear friends, can we do less?  By forgiving others we are bringing healing to the body of Christ, and we are setting others free to discover new life and opportunities in Him.

By forgiving others we are expressing the life of Christ. We become more like Him; we are set free to love and to serve all persons, as Christ would do. So we are fulfilling the desires of God here on this earth in a manner that will be rewarding to Christ. Give all honor and praise to Him.